Chapter 9 Jacksonian Democracy
-Did Jackson and his administration follow the ideals put forth by the Jacksonian
Democratic party to help the "common man?"
-How did Jackson's personal biases affect his decision concerning economic policy,
civil liberties, and the system of political democracy?
-In what ways were sectional tensions increased, and why did they emerge during the
period of Jacksonian Democracy?
-What were the negative and positive results of Jackson's policies?
I. Jacksonian Democracy
A. Jackson's popularity upon election was immense.
B. A mobbing at the white house to see the hero of New Orleans.
C. Pell-mell again returned to the white house. The people had arrived and some feared it would
be the reign of "King Mob."
II. "Democratizing" Politics
A. Common Man -Jefferson's view that all men are equal. Certainly that did not apply in the
Jackson Administration to men or women of color.
B. Jackson's democracy was more of attitude than practice. Huge gains for the common man did
not evolve but some gains did emerge. There was more glorification of the ordinary man.
C. Less emphasis on decorative clothes, distinction of wealth and finery, Americans no longer
employed servants but hired help.
D. Western states drive this egalitarian view.-self-image is not an issue in Europe and European
systems. Example: removal of property qualifications for voting.
E. End state legislatures nomination for presidency and creation of national party conventions
after 1828.
F. Other egalitarian changes - Beginning of the free school movement, stop state supported
incoming representatives as well as leaders.
G. New political parties developed in 1828-the party machinery was key in moving local voters
to National Republicans or Democrats.
H. Results from this as service to the party members at all levels-Rights of the Spoil System.
III. 1828: The Party System in Embryo
A. Jackson was angered due to the Corrupt Bargain of Henry Clay and John Q. Adams.
Jackson felt he was cheated.
B. Jackson avoided taking too hard of a stand on any issue and used his military popularity to
gain support.
C. Adams was making numerous mistakes, alienating many who surrounded him by his crass
actions. Adam also insulted Jackson's wife in near tabloid like lies.
D. Jackson was furious and retaliated with other sensationalized lies.
E. Issues of the period were largely being ignored.
F. Jackson wins and was vindicated-Adams was humbled.
IV. The Jacksonian Appeal
A. Jackson created an illusion of caring for the needs of the Common Man-in reality this "nonDemocrat" held many Federalist views, and resembled Washington more than Jefferson.
B. Jackson was a soldier first, speculator of land, slave owner, early a hard money advocate, was
rich and had few intellectual interests.
C. Frontier roughness was balanced with good manners, his temper (wild) often had purpose.
D. He was not educated, and born in a log cabin but rose to greatness due to his tough spirit,
decisive administration of duties, and patriotic loyalty.
E. He was at home on the floor of the forest or the floor of the ballroom.
F. Broad appeal to all sectors of the nation-Bankers to farmers; Southern Plantation owners to
merchants on the east coast.
V. The Spoil System
A. Jackson's wife died shortly after the elections and Jackson felt that Adam's attacks contributed
to he end. Jackson wanted to punish the "vile wretches."
B. Henry Clay feared the fallout from a Jacksonian victory and his future appointments to
government positions.
C. Numerous partisans of Jackson's, descended on Washington to gain spoils offices.
D. Many who were removed were incompetent and deserved ousting, but Jackson advanced a
new concept of office: rotation against an established privileged group in Federal office, in the
spirit of the Common Man. Jackson's contempt for expert knowledge and belief in the ordinary
man made this action logical.
E. Jackson did not practice what he preached-he appointed elite and distinguished men to many
key offices.
F.Men who gained from the spoils system, hung around the capital for months looking for "a tit
to suck the treasury pap" Jackson 1829. Quote p. 250. "Throw the Rascals out!!!!!" (Meaning
Adams and his appointees).
VI. President of All the People
A. People thought he was a simple soldier but really exercised his authority.
B. Jackson's cabinet was not comprised of great men, except Secretary of State Van Buren.
Jackson relied on his Kitchen Cabinet - Van Buren and a few friends. Jackson controlled his
administration.
C. Jackson aggressively used the veto 12 times compared to a total of 9 vetoes from Washington
to JQ Adams.
D. Jackson was a Jeffersonian in spending with small government and opposition to the bank.
Jackson did not understand the bank or national finance, he was guided by his prejudices.
E. A powerful leader who knew how to lead a charge and motivate the masses to follow.
VII. Sectional Tensions Revived
A. Jackson attempted to take a moderate course-slight reduction of tariffs and internal
improvements.
B. Even cautious proposals caused conflicts.
C. Jackson also suggested when the national debt was gone to give money surplus to states.
D. Benton from Missouri wanted surplus funds for cheap land.
E. Foote from Conn. wanted to stop Western land sales. Proposed Foote Resolution.
F. Hayne (spokesman for Calhoun) suggested a southern/western alliance based on low tariffs
and cheap land. All predicated on states rights doctrine.
G. Daniel Webster rose and spoke for 2 days ripping Hayne to shreds.
H. This exchange is known as the Hayne-Webster debates.
VIII. "The Bank ... I Will Kill It!"
A. The bank was on solid ground after Chevees took over. He was followed by Nicholas Biddlea brilliant man who managed the bank skillfully through the 1820's.
B. Money supplies, control of National banks as established in McCulloch v. Maryland had
established legality.
C. Money supply was strong, lending sound, correct balance of hard and soft money and the
economy was growing.
D. Farmers did hit a slump based on the business cycle and supply problems which in turn fed
fears of banks and soft money. All these concerns were based on ignorance and prejudice.
E. Some New Yorkers resented the Philadelphia base of the National Bank and some just
distrusted monopolies.
F. Biddle was doing what the nation wanted but powerful forces (Jackson) opposed him.
IX. Jackson's Bank Veto
A. The bank had to come up for recharter and Jackson took up the leadership to kill the bank.
B. Biddle and Jackson had a falling out and Biddle gravitated to the National Republicans and
Clay.
C. Jackson vowed to kill the bank.
D. The bank issue was seized by Webster and Clay for the 1832 election-Jackson had to allow
recharter or veto.
E. They tried to use this issue against him in the election.
F. Jackson brushed aside McCulloch v. Maryland and said the bank was a monopoly for the rich
and assets were held by the British.
G. The bank was to die in 1836 but Jackson actually (Distribution Act) impounded the money
to the Bank. He had to dismiss his Sec. of Treasury Duane (refused to with draw $ from national
bank) and replace him with Roger B. Taney.
H. Taney gave money to Pet Banks (state banking system after Jackson killed the National
Bank.); such as, the Union Bank of Baltimore which Taney's friend was the president and Taney
owned stock.
I. State Banks gained the power of finance.
J. Biddle tried to retaliate by drying up the money supply but it failed to move Jackson and aging
"Old Hickory" or "Sharp Knife" won (nicknames for Jackson).
K. Taney distributed the money fairly to state banks and understood the implications of his
actions. Jackson did not understand.
X. Jackson v. Calhoun
A. Jackson and Calhoun were President and Vice president and quickly growing apart.
B. Jackson a strong unionist and Calhoun a states rights advocate began battling over political
position.
C. Calhoun wanted the Presidency and Jackson was not going to give it up and seemingly
endorsed Van Buren.
D. Peggy Eaton Affair- Secretary of war Eaton's wife was being snubbed by Calhoun's wife.
E. Issues like internal improvements were pro west, but Jackson vetoed the Maysville Roadoffending Clay but healing the rift between he and Calhoun.
XI. Indian Removals
A. Jackson also took a states rights position with the state of Cherokee Nation v. Georgia.
B. Removal was the goal of Jackson, which was a popular position of the time but seemingly
heartless today. Jackson said this would protect the Indians from settlement.
C. His plans were to resettle the Indians west of the Mississippi in the Indian Territories of
Oklahoma and parts of Kansas.
D. Many tribes resigned to removal: Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw.
E. Alexis de Tocqueville in his publication: "Democracy in America" discussed the brutal
removals.
F. Grim suffering was reported and the government made no efforts to comfort the Native
Americans.
G. Some resisted, like the Sac and the Fox, led by Black Hawk in 1832.
H. Seminoles also resisted but ultimately fled to swamps or were removed.
I. Cherokee Indians developed into a true society and wanted to have their territory recognized
and appealed to the Supreme court. In Cherokee Nation v. Georgia Marshall ruled that the
Cherokee were not a foreign state but in Worcester v. Georgia ruled that the state could not
control the Cherokee on their territory.
J. Told the courts "Marshall made his decision, now let him enforce it."
K. Jackson overlooked this decision and allowed states rights. Georgia that led to the Trail of
Tears where 4 to 6 thousand Cherokee died enroute to the Indian Territories.
L. Famous conflict and a terrible focus of American Indian Policy.
XII. The Nullification Crisis
A. The Hayen alliance between the west and south had been discredited by Webster.
B. Tariff of Abominations (1828) promoted sectional tensions.
C. 1832 tariff was passed but lowered tariffs much less than southerners wished-South Carolina
began to discuss nullification!
D. Northern criticism of Slavery was another contributing factor to sectional tension- Nat
Turners Revolt in 1831 further drove fear and paranoia.
E. Radical South Carolinians felt that slavery regulation and tariffs were going to be forced upon
them by the tyranny of the majority.
F. "Calhoun's Exposition and Protest" was again being discussed and it was popular in the South.
Calhoun's logic and reasoning was brilliant although flawed. Calhoun argued that the minority of
a nation had the right to break from the larger nation based on a minority right to interpret the
constitution.
G. Jackson was the opposite of Calhoun and did not entertain any of this intellectualization.
Jackson said that discussions and editorials are fine but if one drop of blood was shed due to this
issue he would hang the first Nullifier he found on the first tree available. p. 258.
H. South Carolina was not impressed and passed state legislation in Nov. of 1832 to stop all
tariff collections after Feb. 1833.
I. Force Act of 1832 Empowered Jackson after S.C. Nullification to raise an army and enforce
the law-"Old Hickory" raised a force of 50,000 to 200,000 and warned "Disunion by armed force
is treason. Are you really ready to incur its guilt?"
J. Lacking the backing of another southern state and fearing for his life, Calhoun wished to
negotiate.
K. Henry Clay led the Compromise Tariff of 1833, a slow reduction of the 1824 tariff for 10
years until 1816 tariff levels were reached.
L. The issue of slavery still loomed and succession was the thought of radicals after the fiasco on
nullification.
XIII. Boom and Bust
A. There was an increase in Specie from 1835-1836. Taney had pet banks keep high reserves but
other state banks loosened credit.
B. Soft money triggered huge land speculation and drove land prices higher. Using deeds as
collateral, this pyramid scheme had little foundation.
C. Jackson became alarmed with the amount of speculation and issued the Specie Circular,
which meant that purchase of land in the future must use hard money (gold or silver.)
D. Land demand fell as did prices. Lack of markets led to foreclosure on land that had less value
than collateral leading to crisis.
E. Commodity prices also fell 30%.
F. The Panic of 1837 was devastating and Jackson made it worse by his brash attack on the bank
and Specie Circular.
G. Jackson was arrogant, ignorant, and did not reflect on decisions. He commanded the nation
but often without vision or understanding.
XIV. Jacksonianism Abroad
A. Did not trust foreign powers and on two occasions threatened war on France and CanadaFrance for damages from the Napoleonic wars and Canada due to Boycotts.
B. Jackson in each case was radical and overreacted over petty issues and minimal gains.
C. Jackson's distrust for foreign powers was clear.
XV. The Jacksonians
A. Jacksonian doctrine had replaced Jeffersonian by 1836.
B. The Democratic party had galvanized behind "Old Hickory".
C. Diverse membership of wealthy and poor, all sections of the nation, abolitionists and slave
holders.
D. This loose affiliation believed in reduced privileged and a fear of monopolies as well as
absolute political freedom for white males.
E. Locofoco groups wanted to push for more egalitarian reform of public education, and not
making decisions of a person's worth based on wealth, dress or manners.
F. Predictably immigrants and Catholics often voted Democrat.
XVI. Rise of the Whigs-1834
A. Clay's National Republican Party was not well organized (An anti-Jackson Party).
B. Many in opposition referred to Jackson as "King Andrew" and took issue on his command of
the USA.
C. Those who were frustrated by Jackson's flawed economic plans also began to defect.
D. Jackson's anti-intellectual positions also drove lawyers, doctors, ministers and other highly
educated persons to the Whigs.
E. Whigs formed slowly with too many generals and the party machinery did not evolve quickly.
F. In 1836 the Whigs splintered and Jackson's man Van Buren won.
XVII. Martin Van Buren: Jacksonianism without Jackson
A. "The Little Magician" was bright and fine public speaker and still elusive on his position of
issues like the tariff.
B. He was nominated over Calhoun as the Democratic nominee at the 1835 National
Convention.
C. He took office during the Panic of 1837. The depression hurt the nation and VanBuren, a
"Jeffersonian," took a Laissez Faire stance.
D. Specie Circular was removed.
E. Bumper crops of cotton led to a drop in market price, failure of canals, and other economic
calamities deepened the depression. Van Buren's lack of action may seem undemocratic, but for
the period the 1830's mind set was for state aid not national aid.
F. Van Buren's greatest concern was to deal with the state banks and and developed the Divorce
Bill to Divorce the USA government from banking. This is known as the Independent Treasury
Plan of 1840. This repealed the Distribution Act and kept federal reserves in small sub
treasuries.
G. Many bankers and merchants justly feared that government would tighten the money supply
but due to RR development, gold discovery, and favorable foreign imports this crisis never
occurred.
H. Fraud and counterfeiting were very common and every day business was very
inconvenienced.
XVIII. The Log Cabin Campaign
A. The Whigs became better organized, and picked Harrison over Clay or Webster because his
views were not well known and were therefore less controversial.
B. Van Buren was damaged due to the depression but still had a good chance in the election.
C. Harrison and the Log Cabin Campaign, Harrison Wins. New campaigning techniques of
circus hoopla, songs and chants.
D. Harrison was Laissez Faire and felt Jackson over-used veto. Webster and Clay wanted to
guide the nation but Harrison dies 1 month into office and Tyler was President.
Terms
Age of the Common Man- This movement was started by Andrew Jackson, and it stressed
universal manhood suffrage, public education in the West, cheap newspapers, majority rule, and
the abolition of debtor prisons.
Spoils System- The new concept of political office as a reward filled offices with the presidents
partisans.
Corrupt Bargain 1824 -John Q. Adams won the presidency by appointing Henry Clay as the
Sec. of State, Clay placed all his support behind Adams in the House. This deal split the party in
two with Jackson creating the democratic party, and Adams creating the national republicans.
Kitchen Cabinet- This referred to a group of unofficial advisors to President Jackson. They
received this nickname because they met together to discuss problems while in the White House
kitchen.
Foote Resolution 1829- It called on Congress to stop land sales completely. It was proposed by
eastern factory owners who were afraid a liberal land policy would drain workers to the west.
States Rights Doctrine- Was suggested by Hayne, and he suggested a southern/western alliance
based on low tariffs and cheap land.
Hayne-Webster Debates 1829-1830- In the Senate, Daniel Webster (Massachusetts) debated
Robert Y. Hayne (South Carolina) about states' rights vs. federalism. This debate began when the
Foote resolution called on congress to stop land sales. Hayne attempted to secure a west-south
alliance by attacking the resolution. Webster changed the debate to a discussion over
nullification (Webster said it was impossible to secede from Union) and prevented any alliance
from forming.
McCulloch v. Maryland- established control of national banks, money supplies, and established
legality of the Bank.
National Bank- This bank was established to be controlled by the Federal government rather
than the states.
Distribution Act 1836- This act allotted all federal revenues in excess of $5 million to the states
(according to their population.)
Pet Banks- They were state banks that received funds from th federal government. They were
created by President Jackson to limit the power and efficiency of the Second U.S. Bank.
John C. Calhoun- he was a candidate from South Carolina in the election of 1824, but later
dropped out and became vice President. He also wrote the South Carolina Exposition and
Protest anonymously.
Peggy Eaton Affair- Peggy Eaton was the wife of Secretary of War John Eaton. Calhoun's wife
and others snubbed Peggy because her father had been a tavern keeper. These snubbings by
Calhoun's wife, along with Calhoun's opposition to Jackson's actions in Florida forced Eaton to
resign.
Maysville Road- This road's construction was proposed by Henry Clay in an effort to link
Virginia and Kentucky, but Jackson vetoed the bill because it was Clay's idea.
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia- Caused Jackson to take a states' rights position.
Alexis de Tocqueville- In 1835, De Tocqueville, a French historian came to America and
observed democracy. when he went back to America he wrote Democracy in America, and
accurate account of the strengths and weaknesses of American democracy.
Worcester v. Georgia- Cherokee indians developed into a true society and wanted to have their
territory recognized and appealed to the Supreme Court. Marshall ruled that the Cherokee were
not a foreign state in Cherokee nation v. Georgia, but this case ruled that the state could not
control the cherokee on their own territory.
Trail of Tears- This was a mass relocation of 17,000 Cherokee Indians of Georgia to the Great
Plains. six thousand Cherokees died on the way to the relocation camp. Even after the Supreme
Court ruling in Worchester vs. Georgia, Jackson still sent the remaining Cherokees to the Indian
reservation in the Great Plains.
Tariff of Abominations 1828- The federal government reduced the protective tariff of 116, but
South Carolina wanted the tariff lowered to pre-1816 rates. This led to a confrontation between
the federal government and South Carolina.
Nullification- The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions were attempts to nullify the Alien and
Sedition Acts.
Nat Turner's Revolt 1831- Nat Turner, who was a black slave, heard angels who told him to
"act as Moses and free his people from bondage." This prompted him to lead a slave revolt in
Virginia, which resulted in the deaths of 60 whites. This rebellion was blamed on The Liberator
and caused the banishment of anti-slavery propaganda from the South.
Calhoun's Exposition and Protest- An anonymously written document that slandered the
tariffs, and suggested nullification and secession.
Force Act of 1832- This bill was passed by President Jackson after South Carolina nullified the
Tariff of 1832. It enabled the president to use the army to enforce the federal laws in South
Carolina.
Compromise Tariff of 1833- This compromise was written by Henry Clay in an effort to pacify
the southern plantation owners and keep the New England manufacturers happy. it reduced the
Tariff of 1824 gradually over a ten-year span to the level of the Tariff of 1816
Specie Circular 1836- It was an attempt by President Jackson to prevent the panic of 1837.
Unfortunately, it came too late to help the economy. This act forced people to use gold and silver
to buy western lands.
Panic of 1837- This was a very serious depression suffered by the U.S. at the beginning of
President Van Buren's term. The panic was caused by English bankers when they called in their
loans to American firms. Banks had been reckless in loaning out unsound currency and had
caused an inflationary spiral. President Van Buren tried to alleviate the depression with the
independent Treasury Plan.
National Republican Party 1824- John Q. Adams led he newly formed National Republicans
after the split of the Democratic-republican party. This party was made up of states' righters.
Whigs 1836- By 1836, The National Republicans were calling themselves Whigs to suggest
affinity with revolutionary radicals. The party was composed of industrialists and merchants
from the northeast, wealthy farmers from the west, and southern planters.
1835 National Convention- This is where Van Buren was nominated over Calhoun as the
Democratic nominee.
Laissez Faire- This was a philosophy created in 1776 by Adam Smith that advocated minimal
government regulation of business.
Martin Van Buren- Preceded Jackson and was nicknamed "Van Ruin" because of the chaotic
conditions that were left after Jackson's policies.
Divorce Bill- see Independent Treasury Plan of 1840
Independent Treasury Plan of 1840- It was created by martin Van Buren and was also called
the "Divorce Bill" because it divorced the government from banking. It repealed the Distribution
act and allowed the U.S. government to keeps its revenues in subtreasuries rather than in banks.